In West Sacramento’s City Hall, leadership doesn’t sit behind slogans; it’s lived every day by women who turn complex plans into lasting change. At the center of that effort are Assistant City Managers Ariana Adame and Amanda Berlin — two leaders whose complementary roles help power the city’s ongoing transformation.
Ariana Adame’s connection to public service started early, shadowing her father in the Los Angeles city offices where she learned how civic systems touch daily lives. That early fascination became a calling. Today, she oversees the outward-facing departments residents see and feel most, such as capital projects, economic development and housing, public works, parks and recreation, and community development, turning policy into playgrounds and blueprints into neighborhoods that thrive. Her focus on the Bryte Park renovation embodies what she values most: reinvestment that opens space and opportunity for a long-underserved community.
Amanda Berlin arrived through a different door. With roots in environmental law, she found her way into local government through a fascination with how legal frameworks, infrastructure and community goals intersect. Now she guides the city’s inner workings — human resources, information technology, city clerk and finance — ensuring that the foundation beneath West Sacramento’s visible progress stays strong. If Adame builds outward, Berlin builds underneath, aligning systems so that growth doesn’t outpace sustainability.
But neither woman views their success as singular. Across departments, from finance and economic development to parks, recreation and public works maintenance, women in the City of West Sacramento lead critical teams that keep the city moving. Many began their careers in entry-level or technical roles, shaping a culture of mentorship that mirrors Adame’s and Berlin’s partnership. Their collective influence extends from the waterfront’s redevelopment to crucial behind-the-scenes improvements that residents rarely see but constantly rely on.
It’s no coincidence that West Sacramento is one of only six California cities with an all-female city council, supported by an executive team that’s 65% women. Together, they show that the city’s accelerating growth isn’t just a matter of vision; it’s the outcome of shared leadership, steady collaboration and a belief that public service works best when everyone helps build from within.
